Art and Philadelphia

Jul 27 / Michelle Cross Smith
Mural on the side of a rowhouse in Philadelphia.
I’m spending my mornings this week in South Philly.
My daughter is taking an oil painting program at Fleisher Art Memorial, a community art school in the Bella Vista neighborhood.

Fleisher was founded in 1898 by the son of a factory owner, who believed everyone- including the children of factory workers- should have opportunities to express themselves through art. Fleisher's programming continues to be vibrant and includes classes for both adults and children.
Sidewalk poem
For those of you who don’t know, art oozes out of Philadelphia’s nooks and crannies. I meet art everywhere I turn in Bella Vista, from giant murals on the sides of row houses to poetry spray-painted on the sidewalk.
A few blocks from Magic Gardens, I can’t escape the presence of Isaiah Zagar, whose mosaics pop up on side streets in place of chain-link fences or brick walls. Mural Arts Philadelphia has covered the city with beauty in both expected and unexpected places. 
Magic Gardens
The presence of art changes how I feel about a place. Sometimes the impact is subtle, like a gentle lift, and other times I’m almost overcome with awe, as though I’m in the company of something akin to holy.

The presence of art communicates that a space is cared for and imagination is welcome, a great case for expanding public art across the human landscape.

Podcast Episode 2: Experiencing Art

I had an opportunity to chat with Katherine Cotter, Director of Research with the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project team at the University of Pennsylvania. Katherine explains how looking at art is unique from other visual experiences. It invites us to step away from the everyday and use our minds differently, parsing out elements of the piece (colors, shapes, textures, faces, words) to create a visual narrative. When we find meaning, we’ve created a connection to the piece and the artist. 

Katherine also defines positive psychology and flourishing, makes a case for public art, and shares tips on how to make creativity part of our everyday lives. To hear the conversation in full, check out Episode 2: Experiencing Art on the Incredible Mind Podcast, available on most streaming apps and YouTube. 

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